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The Conduit
The words first-person shooters and
“awesome graphics” haven’t been able to be combined much when talking about the
Nintendo Wii, but High Voltage Software is trying to change that. Not only
happy with trying to show off what the Wii really CAN do graphically, High
Voltage has gone the extra mile with great controls, the use of accessories and
add-ons, a lot of big-time weapons and a story that doesn’t involve World Wars
but instead involves going after aliens. This could very well be the game that
fills that Duke Nukem Forever gaps in your hearts (we’ll see if that EVER gets
released). It should also help quiet the “Wii’s too casual” crowd.
Impressions
The Conduit seems to be shaping up into a must have game. One
of those “system sellers”, or in this case, “system that has already sold such
a huge amount that it will just sell more”, games. Ha-ha. In all serious though, if you’re one of the
ten people who don’t own a Wii because you feel as though there are no hardcore
games, here’s your chance to prove that’s the reason you didn’t want a Wii.
This
game has all of the action, effects, blood (albeit alien blood) and hardcore
explosions you could possibly ask for. Every weapon, stage and line of dialogue
here won’t leave you feeling ashamed to be playing. It all will draw you more
and more into the action. So far, ten to fifteen weapons are said to be in the
game. Everything from human military weapons like the SCAR assault rifle to
alien super weapons will be at your disposal. Also, a special item called the
All Seeing Eye, or ASE, will give you a reason to point your Wii-mote’s pointer
at the screen for something more than shooting. This item is said to allow you
to see secrets, through walls and other important tasks.
High
Voltage Software has also put forth their interest in wanting to use the
Wii-speak, Wii-motionPlus and even the Wii balance board with the game. So far,
the Wii-speak and Wii-motionPlus seem to be the only two almost for sure
accessories being used. Obviously, this game will be using the Wii-mote and
nunchuk combo, if there were any questions on that. Online gaming will also be
a mark being made by The Conduit, and
High Voltage is still talking with Nintendo about the friend code situation.
What We Say
High
Voltage Software is really taking a risk spending the money and time on a game
like The Conduit. The game could be a
huge success if a number of casuals on the Wii, in my opinion, are actually hardcore
gamers as well. If I am wrong, the game may flop or simply drag the hardcore
gamers to the Wii. Either way, the question will finally be answered as to
whether the Wii’s performance is PS2-like.
What They Say
In a fictional near future, Washington
D.C. is shaken by several strange events resulting in heightened local and
national tensions. John Adams, the enigmatic leader of a shadow organization
known as the Trust, realizes that the nation’s capital has come under attack by
an alien race called the Drudge. A former Secret Service agent, codenamed “Mr.
Ford”, is recruited to learn the origins of this attack. The answer Mr. Ford
finds is not the one he expects.
The Conduit is a straightforward First Person Shooter (FPS) in the
style of Halo, MOH: Heroes 2, and Resistance: Fall of Man. Players battle enemy
forces in a highly detailed 3D world using a dynamic control scheme only
possible on the Wii.
Features
· “Next-Gen”
Visuals – Dynamic environment mapping, interactive water with real time reflection,
and four stage texture composition including gloss, diffuse, and bump mapping
all make this the best looking game on the Wii.
· Fearsome
Enemies – A vast number of terrifying alien creatures work against you as you
attempt to prevent the invasion.
· Intelligent Behavior – Enemies make use of human-like
behavior in combat including use of cover and tactical thinking.
· Intense Weaponry – Unleash destruction with a huge
arsenal of human and alien weaponry that utilizes the innovative Wii controller
for unique firing modes.
· Secrets Revealed – Use a device called the All Seeing
Eye (ASE) to reveal concealed objects and enemies, providing a deeper level of
puzzle solving.
· Don’t Trust Anyone – Up to 16 players simultaneously
compete against each other in online Multiplayer, including Deathmatch and
Capture the Flag modes. Talk trash using online voice chat through the new
WiiSpeak peripheral.
· Award Winning Development - IGN Best Shooter Game of
E3 2008 (Wii), IGN Best Graphics Technology of E3 2008 (Wii), IGN Best Overall
Wii Game of E3 2008, GameTrailers Best Wii Game of E3 2008, and Top 20 Games of
E3 2008 (Edge).
Overall
Besides being possibly one of the prettiest games on
the Wii, taking advantage of every Wii accessory and being very high on the
buzz scale, The Conduit is shaping up
to be one of those few games made that sparks attention from other developers.
This game could, in effect, wake up developers and make them realize the Wii is
capable of much more. Whether you’re a hardcore or “casual” gamer, this game
WILL be fun. Don’t let a little bit of blood fool you, if you’re a casual.
Don’t let a little bit of waggle fool you if you’re a hardcore. This game has
all of the pieces of the puzzle, including one that the PS3 and XBOX 360
first-person shooters don’t have. That’s the innovation of Nintendo’s very own
Wii system.
The Conduit is set for a Quarter 1 2009 release date with rumblings of maybe March
with an ESRB rating of Teen.
